At the time, the parents were disputing the 8-month-old baby's surname. Mother, Jaleesa Martin, hoped to keep the name she had given the boy— Messiah Deshawn Martin — and father, Jawaan McCullough, wanted the baby to bear his last name.

Ballew surprised both parents by ordering the baby's name be changed to Martin Deshawn McCullough, saying the name Messiah is a title held only by Jesus Christ and places an undue burden on him.